International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1989

Halle, German Democratic Republic · 6 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Solubility product of copper(II) iodate by iodometric titration

    To determine the solubility product of copper(II) iodate, \(\ce{Cu(IO3)2}\), by iodometric titration in an acidic solution (25 °C) 30.00 cm³ of a 0.100 molar sodium thiosulphate solution are needed to titrate 20.00 cm³ of a saturated aqueous solution \(\ce{Cu(IO3)2}\).

    1.1 Write the sequence of balanced equations for the above described reactions.

    1.2 Calculate the initial concentration of \(\ce{Cu^2+}\) and the solubility product of copper(II) iodate. Activity coefficients can be neglected.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Synthesis gas: compression work and the CO conversion equilibrium

    A mixture of gases containing mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen is produced by the reaction of alkanes with steam:

    Figure 1

    2.1 Using equations (1) and (2) write down an overall reaction (3) so that the net enthalpy change is zero.

    2.2 The synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen is carried out either

    a) in two steps, where the starting mixture corresponding to equation (3) is compressed from \(0.1\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\) to \(3\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\), and the mixture of products thereof compressed again from \(3\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\) to \(6\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\)

    or

    b) in one step, where the mixture of products corresponding to equation (3) is compressed from \(0.1\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\) to \(6\times10^6\ \mathrm{Pa}\).

    Calculate the work of compression, \(W_a\), according to the two step reaction for \(100\ \mathrm{cm^3}\) of starting mixture and calculate the difference in the work of compression between the reactions 1 and 2.

    Assume for calculations a complete reaction at constant pressure. Temperature remains constant at \(500\ \mathrm{K}\), ideal gas behaviour is assumed.

    To produce hydrogen for the synthesis of ammonia, a mixture of \(40.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) CO and \(40.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) of hydrogen, \(18.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) of carbon dioxide and \(2.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) of nitrogen are in contact with \(200.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) of steam in a reactor where the conversion equilibrium is established.

    Figure 2

    2.3 Calculate the number of moles of each gas leaving the reactor.

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Removal of sulphur dioxide from power-station flue gases

    Sulphur dioxide is removed from waste gases of coal power stations by washing with aqueous suspensions of calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide. The residue formed is recovered.

    3.1 Write all reactions as balanced equations.

    3.2 How many kilograms of calcium carbonate are daily consumed to remove 95 % of the sulphur dioxide if 10000 \(\mathrm{m^3/h}\) of waste gas (corrected to 0 °C and standard pressure) containing 0.15 % sulphur dioxide by volume are processed? How many kilograms of gypsum are recovered thereby?

    3.3 Assuming that the sulphur dioxide is not being removed and equally spread in an atmospheric liquid water pool of 5000 \(\mathrm{m^3}\) and fully returned on earth as rain, what is the expected pH of the condensed water?

    3.4 If a sodium sulphite solution is used for absorption, sulphur dioxide and the sulphite solution can be recovered. Write down the balanced equations and point out possible pathways to increase the recovery of sulphur dioxide from an aqueous solution.

    Note:

    Protolysis of sulphur dioxide in aqueous solutions can be described by the first step dissociation of sulphurous acid. The dissociation constant \(K_{a,1}(\ce{H2SO3})=10^{-2.25}\).

    Assume ideal gases and a constant temperature of 0 °C at standard pressure.

    \(M(\ce{CaCO3})=100\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}};\ M(\ce{CaSO4})=172\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: 32P-labelled PCl5: reaction mechanism and solubility of Mg(NH4)PO4

    \(\ce{^{32}P}\) labelled phosphorus pentachloride (half-life \(t_{1/2}=14.3\) days) is used to study the electrophilic attack of a \(\ce{PCl4+}\) cation on nitrogen or on oxygen.

    Figure 1

    The reaction is carried out in \(\ce{CCl4}\) and the solvent and product IV distilled off. Samples of III (remaining in the distillation flask), of IV (in the distillate) and samples of the starting material II are hydrolyzed by heating with a strong sodium hydroxide solution. The phosphate ions formed are precipitated as ammonium magnesium phosphate. Purified samples of the three precipitates are then dissolved by known volumes of water and the radioactivity measured.

    4.1 Write the balanced equations for the reaction of red phosphorus forming \(\ce{PCl5}\)

    4.2 Write the reaction equations for complete hydrolysis of the compounds II and III using sodium hydroxide.

    4.3 How long does it take in order to lower the initial radioactivity to \(10^{-3}\) of the initial value?

    4.4 Write two alternative mechanisms for the reaction of labelled \(\ce{PCl4^-}\) with the anion of I.

    4.5 After hydrolysis the precipitated ammonium magnesium phosphates show the following values for radioactivity:

    II. 2380 Bq for 128 mg of \(\ce{Mg(NH4)PO4}\)

    III. 28 Bq for 153 mg of \(\ce{Mg(NH4)PO4}\)

    IV. 2627 Bq for 142 mg of \(\ce{Mg(NH4)PO4}\)

    Using these data, what can you say about the nucleophilic centre attacked by \(\ce{PCl4^-}\)?

    Data: For \(\ce{H3PO4}\): \(pK_1=2.2;\quad pK_2=7.2;\quad pK_3=12.4\)

    Solubility product of \(\ce{Mg(NH4)PO4}\): \(pK_s=12.6\)

    Equilibrium concentration of \(\ce{NH4+}=0.1\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\)

    4.6 Calculate the solubility for \(\ce{Mg(NH4)PO4}\) at pH equal to 10 under idealized conditions (activity coefficients can be neglected).

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Isomeric cyclobutanedicarboxylic acids

    Carboxylic acids are a chemically and biologically important class of organic compounds.

    5.1 Draw the constitutional (structural) formulae of all isomeric cyclobutanedicarboxylic acids and give the systematic names for these compounds.

    5.2 There are three stereoisomers, I,II and III, of cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid. Draw perspective or stereo formulas of I, II and III indicating the relative configuration of each molecule.

    5.3 Which pairs of stereoisomers I, II and III are diastereoisomers and which are enantiomers of each other?

    5.4 Which reaction can be used to determine the relative configuration of diastereoisomers?

    5.5 How may the enantiomers of cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid be separated?

    5.6 Indicate the absolute configurations of each asymmetric centre on the structures of the stereoisomers I, II and III using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules (\(R,S\) system).

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Fats, fatty acids and phospholipids

    Fats (lipids) contain a non-polar (hydrophobic) and a polar (hydrophilic) group. The lipids insoluble in water, have important biological functions.

    6.1 Draw the structures of Z-octadec-9-enoic acid (oleic acid), octadecanoic acid (stearic acid), and hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid).

    6.2 Using these three fatty acids in part 6.1 draw one possible structure of a triacyl glyceride.

    6.3 Write the equation for the hydrolysis reaction of your triacyl glyceride in part 6.2 in aqueous NaOH solution. Give the mechanism of the hydrolysis of one of the fatty acids from your glyceride.

    6.4 Which of the following fatty acids, \(\ce{C21H43COOH}\), \(\ce{C17H35COOH}\) or \(\ce{C5H11COOH}\), is the least soluble in water?

    6.5 Phospholipids are an important class of bioorganic compounds. Draw the structure of the phosphatidic acid derived from your triacyl glyceride in part 6.2.

    6.6 Phospholipids are frequently characterized by the diagram:

    Figure 1

    i) Mark the hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups on a copy of the above diagram.

    ii) Draw two possibilities for the association of six identical molecules of a phospholipid in water using the above diagram.

    iii) Biomembranes consist of a phospholipid bi-layer. Draw such a model for a membrane using the above diagram.

    iv) Such a model (iii) is incomplete. What other bio-macromolecules are contained in such biomembranes?

    Official English text of the problem.